California To Allow Physician Assisted Suicide

On October 5, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the End of Life Option Act to allow adults diagnosed with terminal health conditions to ask their physician to prescribe drugs for the purpose of ending life. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2016. The California Medical Board is developing guidelines for physicians. The California Department of Public Health will oversee use of the option.

In a statement about his decision to sign the Act, Governor Brown said, “ABx2 is not an ordinary bill because it deals with life and death. The crux of the matter is whether the . . .